December 2013

12/16/2013

I wrote a blog post on December 9, 2013 detailing the step-by-step process I used for visualizing a repurposed space within a historic feed and grain building in Colorado. This followup article is about the importance of creating a "series" of sketches for a single project to best communicate design ideas.

This visualization project involved a proposal to renovate the ground floor of the brick agricultural building into artist studios, multi-use events spaces, art galleries and commercial space. I created a total of six illustrations for this studioINSITE project. Below are the additional five sketches and a brief explanation about each.

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Feed + Fuel Cafe Sketch

The process of creating this cafe sketch (and all others) involved starting with a photograph of the existing space, developing sketch detail in red pencil, illustrating the scene in ink and finally coloring it with markers and colored pencils. The idea behind this drawing was the conversion of a wonderful space centrally located in the building into a coffee shop and snack bar. I took the photograph with my iPhone and printed it 8”x10”.

I developed all of the cafe elements in red pencil on tracing paper taped over the photographic print and drew the ink line sketch using a water based ink pen on white tracing paper.

The final cafe sketch was colored directly onto the original ink line artwork with Chartpak AD markers. I added a slight amount of colored pencil linework to highlight the wood floor boards and the rear brick wall. Notice the composition includes nine people to activate the scene, a variety of light fixtures, artwork, three different seating types, graphic signage and lots of counter top activity.

This sketch illustrated the potential of converting the existing loading dock/weighing station of the historic feed and grain building into an outdoor concert venue. Note that I rendered the building as natural brick rather than the white painted facade. I also populated the scene with wall-to-wall people to really emphasize a successful concert event. Given the small 8”x10” size of the drawing, I did not need to create any high level of detail with individual faces and heads.

My challenge with this existing warehouse space was to show it two different ways: one set up as a wedding party, and the other as an art instruction classroom. Matching the perspective of the existing digital photograph, I found two different wedding scene jpegs on the internet and spliced them into the original photo using Adobe Photoshop.

Wedding Party Sketch. I created a contemporary overhead element to add color and “ceiling” to the wedding scene. I illustrated people seated at the tables and also created two larger panels in the rear space to enliven the overall scene.

Art Class Sketch. This drawing was the most difficult of all six because I had no reference information to go by. I imagined what an art class might look like (seated and standing individuals, easels, sketch pads, overhead spot lights and of course, an individual posing an a western outfit. I am very pleased with this sketch, especially how the “mountain man” is depicted from many different angles.

This final sketch was easier to draw than the others because I began with a more developed base photograph. This room within the historic building had earlier been used for a holiday crafts show and I was able to download this photograph from the internet.

Using my red pencil mockup process, I added more shop elements to the left side of the image, more people and graphic signage. I traced the pencil mockup with a water based ink pen on a second sheet of white tracing paper. Note: it is always a great idea to make a 300dpi scan of your original line drawings before coloring the artwork. If for any reason you are unhappy with your coloring, you could easily reprint the line drawing on bond paper and color it again!

I added yellow marker highlights to the image to emphasize spot lighting on the artwork and displays. I applied colored pencil linework to the floor and left wall. Remember that when coloring on thin tracing paper, you can always apply colored markers on the front and back sides of the paper to build up certain colors.

Review all of the six drawings from this series of sketches and notice how consistent I was with the level of detail, illustrative technique and coloring method. Whenever you create a series of drawings for any project, please try to establish a consistent format, illustrative style and color palette.

12/09/2013

Some of my favorite drawing challenges deal with visualizing interior spaces when there is a need to establish design character with materials, entourage, graphics, color, lighting and especially people. This studioINSITE visioning project was a great example of showing how an unfinished space could be converted into an exciting new use.

The drawing “step-by-step” example in this blog post was one from a series of six colored sketches I drew to tell a story about how an existing historic feed and grain building could be “repurposed” for different uses related to art and design. Below is my process that combined digital photography and a traditional “overlay and trace” drawing technique.

Existing Historic Building. This beautiful brick building in Colorado was once used to store and distribute agricultural feed and grain. The building is currently used as an art gallery and events space for small musical performances and arts related events. My challenge was to show how different interior spaces could be converted to a cafe, events space, seasonal shops, galleries and artists studios.

Step 1 Base Digital Photograph. I took this photo with an iPhone positioning myself close to the left wall in order to show more of the space in the eye-level view. I made sure to align the camera to keep all vertical elements square with the edges of the photograph (basic 2-point perspective). Note: the space was being used to feature two art installations and the black circle in the photo was a sculpture using a shallow pool of water on the floor.

Step 2 Composite Photograph. I was asked to visualize a concept for converting the existing room into a commercial retail space. My client suggested a fabric shop and I found a great image of a similar store on the internet. I combined both photographs in PhotoShop and came close to matching the perspective. I also digitally painted the floor to eliminate the round black element from the original photo.

Step 3 Red Pencil Mockup. I printed the composite photograph 8”x10” and taped a sheet of thin tracing paper over the print. I sketched additional elements into scene using a col-erase Carmine Red pencil. I always use a red pencil for mockups because it is very easy to see what has been added. It also is easier to trace over (see my next step “Ink Line Drawing”).

Step 4 Ink Line Drawing on Light Table. I have a small light table that is ideal for tracing photographs. It is much easier to see the photographic detail when illuminated from beneath the print. I taped a sheet of tracing paper over the red pencil mockup and illustrated the line drawing using a water based Paper Mate Flair pen.

Step 5 Completed Ink Line Drawing. Notice that my line drawing had no tone or hatching. I illustrated only the outline edges knowing that I would add all texture and shadows during the coloring step of the process.

Step 6 Hand Coloring with Markers and Pencils. I taped the line drawing to an 11”x17” sheet of bond paper and colored the image using about a dozen different Chartpak AD markers. I first colored the lighting with a Cadmium Yellow marker and then colored around the light source. Once the drawing was fully colored with markers, I then used a brown Prismacolor pencil to add subtle linework to the wood floor and right wall.

Step 7 Scan Completed Drawing. I scanned the final drawing as a 300dpi jpeg and emailed the file to my client. A closer look at the drawing reveals a generous use of gray marker to darken spaces on either side of the lighting and beneath furniture elements. I dabbed brown marker on the floor to add some texture and an informal look to the drawing.

Detail

My December 16, 2013 blog post subject is a continuation of this article and shows how to create a series of hand drawn sketches to tell the overall story about repurposing a historic building.

12/02/2013

I really enjoy discovering new methods of combining SketchUp models with hand drawing. My new “Digital Watercolor” method takes the hybrid process one step further and adds filtering with Photoshop to give the image a soft watercolor-like appearance.

This studioINSITE project was for a new hospital healing garden. The outdoor space was filled with variations in surface textures, different visual experiences and sculpted topography for patients to explore. The two digital watercolors I created were used for fund raising purposes. Here is my step-by-step process:

Step 1 Base SketchUp model. One of the talented landscape architects in my firm studioINSITE constructed the base SketchUp model by importing an autoCAD site plan and populating the model with the different elements and topography as per the concept design. I began my visualization process with the model as shown.

Step 2 Background Site Photo. This digital photograph was taken at the location of the new hospital and shows the exact view one would see standing in the healing garden. I used the photo to create the realistic background context for the SketchUp model.

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SketchUp Healing Garden View One

Step 3 Selected View and Exported jpeg. This eye level view was populated with 3D people in the foreground and several in the distance. I composed the scene to include many of the site elements and adjusted the sun angle to highlight the shaded pathway through the wooded area. Notice how well the background photograph with the mountains appears in the view. I exported a 4000 pixel wide jpeg of the view with the edges turned off (an important first step in the digital watercolor process).

Step 4 Exported Edges. I turned off all faces, sky, and shadows in the SketchUp model. I exported just the edges of the model at 4000 pixels wide and saved a jpeg (I added a colored background and frame to the jpeg in this blog post to improve seeing the linework against the white background).

Step 5 Composite SketchUp View. In Photoshop, I brought the two jpeg’s together and gave the linework layer a 50% transparency in order to lighten the lines. I would add back hand drawn lines in the next step of the process. I then lightened the entire image and printed it on 11”x17” coated bond paper. Why lighten the jpeg? - I always print a lightened image in order to reduce the color intensity in the print before adding back color with markers and colored pencils.

Step 6 Hand Illustration and Coloring. I applied Chartpak AD markers to the print and intensified the color of the rocks, grass, tree leaves and pathway. I also traced over much of the computer linework with a hard graphite pencil. The overall image looked entirely different than the computer generated version once the hand drawn pencil lines and color markers were applied to the print. Notice again that the image does not have a strong contrast of dark and light colors. This was intensional as I increased the contrast in the final Photoshop filtering step.

Step 7 Digital Watercolor Filter. I scanned the artwork at 300dpi and opened the image in Adobe Photoshop. I applied a watercolor filter to the image, saved and then adjusted the levels to increase the dark shadows and highlights. The final jpeg had a strong “appearance” of a hand painted watercolor - with much more character and authenticity than if it were a straightforward exported view from SketchUp!

(Detail)

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SketchUp Healing Garden View Two

This second view option of the healing garden was established using the same SketchUp model. I followed the exact steps as the earlier view. By processing two views as the same time, I was able to produce two digital watercolors more efficiently.

SketchUp Model View. This jpeg reflects the final selected view that was printed 11”x17” on coated bond paper.